Facebook has acknowledged that it mistakenly censored the iconic image of former President Donald Trump taken shortly after the July 13 assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. The image that went viral&nbsp;showing&nbsp;Trump defiantly raising his fist and shouting 'fight' even as blood streams down his face, was flagged as misinformation on Meta's Facebook.

The controversy surrounding Facebook is further compounded by the fact that Meta's chatbot, Meta AI, incorrectly referred to the assassination attempt as "fictional" in some responses.&nbsp;

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:150,&quot;w&quot;:649,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2139}">Facebook and censorship</h2>

A Facebook user who goes by the username 'End Wokeness' reported that he even faced threats of deplatforming for sharing the very real image.

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:244,&quot;w&quot;:616,&quot;h&quot;:33,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2233}" href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/president-donaldduck-elon-musk-claims-google-biased-against-trump-interfering-in-us-elections-745191">President Donald...Duck?: Elon Musk claims Google biased against Trump, interfering in US Elections</a>

Taking to social media platform X, the user 'End Wokeness' said, "Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg called the Trump fist image 'one of the most badass things I've ever seen' 10 days ago. Facebook is now censoring that image."

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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg called the Trump fist image "one of the most badass things I've ever seen" 10 days ago. 
 
Facebook is now censoring that image. <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:266,&quot;y&quot;:483,&quot;w&quot;:166,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:299,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2472}" href="https://t.co/7ErQ7kZWaR">pic.twitter.com/7ErQ7kZWaR</a>
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:424,&quot;y&quot;:512,&quot;w&quot;:77,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:457,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2501}" href="https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/1817944478352589155?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The post had over 884k views within 15 hours.

Also on X, Dani Lever, a spokesperson for Meta, Facebook's parent company, admitted the "mistake" on Monday.&nbsp;

"Yes, this was an error," Lever stated on X, responding to conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:691,&quot;w&quot;:640,&quot;h&quot;:33,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2680}" href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/trump-calls-olympics-opening-ceremony-a-disgrace-last-supper-drag-show-a-terrible-thing-heres-why-745459">Trump calls Olympics opening ceremony a 'disgrace', 'Last Supper' drag show a 'terrible thing'. Here's why</a>

"This fact check was initially applied to a doctored photo showing the secret service agents smiling, and in some cases our systems incorrectly applied that fact check to the real photo," she explained.

"This has been fixed and we apologise for the mistake," she further said.

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Yes, this was an error. This fact check was initially applied to a doctored photo showing the secret service agents smiling, and in some cases our systems incorrectly applied that fact check to the real photo. This has been fixed and we apologize for the mistake.
— Dani Lever (@Dani_Lever) <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:402,&quot;y&quot;:976,&quot;w&quot;:77,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:435,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2965}" href="https://twitter.com/Dani_Lever/status/1817954271406538800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The clarification has been met with scepticism from some X users, with remarks suggesting that such errors disproportionately affect conservative viewpoints.&nbsp;

One user noted, "Funny that the 'errors' only ever go in one direction," while others expressed disbelief and frustration over Meta's handling of the situation.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1144,&quot;w&quot;:649,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:3133}">Meta Chatbot AI calls Trump assassination "fictional"</h2>

Facebook has also come under fire for incorrectly referring to the assassination attempt as "fictional" in some responses.&nbsp;

Users reported on social media that when asked about Donald Trump's July 13 assassination attempt, the Meta AI chatbot called it a "fictional event". In contrast, it readily answered questions about Trump's political rival Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential campaign, calling that a "real and ongoing event".

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Meta AI says the Trump assassination attempt is a fictional event. Huh? 
But I was a "conspiracy theorist" for saying that the covid vaccines weren't researched enough. 
OK 🤡 <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:292,&quot;y&quot;:1432,&quot;w&quot;:160,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:325,&quot;abs_y&quot;:3421}" href="https://t.co/Z1vdOKvGj4">pic.twitter.com/Z1vdOKvGj4</a>
— Aida Reva (@RevaAida) <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:394,&quot;y&quot;:1460,&quot;w&quot;:77,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:427,&quot;abs_y&quot;:3449}" href="https://twitter.com/RevaAida/status/1817923506715152612?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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A Meta spokesperson, as per the New York Post, has acknowledged the problem and stated that efforts are underway to correct inaccuracies in the chatbot's responses.

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:7,&quot;y&quot;:1527,&quot;w&quot;:649,&quot;h&quot;:33,&quot;abs_x&quot;:40,&quot;abs_y&quot;:3516}">Google and election interference</h2>

Google has also faced criticism, particularly regarding its search engine's autocomplete function that, when searched for "President Donald" skipped "Trump" in results. Instead, it came up with "President Donald Duck" and "President Donald Reagan".

<img alt="President Donald Duck" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e659693c-a4bc-4822-a019-9d0749050dd8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/New%20wion%20-%202024-07-30T115019.588.png" />

(With inputs from agencies)

Facebook has acknowledged that it mistakenly censored the iconic image of former President Donald Trump taken shortly after the July 13 assassination attempt in Pennsylvania.

Facebook has acknowledged that it mistakenly censored the iconic image of former President Donald Trump taken shortly after the July 13 assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. The image that went viral showing Trump defiantly raising his fist and shouting 'fight' even as blood streams down his face, was flagged as misinformation on Meta's Facebook. The controversy surrounding Facebook is further compounded by the fact that Meta's chatbot, Meta AI, incorrectly referred to the assassination attempt as "fictional" in some responses. Facebook and censorship A Facebook user who goes by the username 'End Wokeness' reported that he even faced threats of deplatforming for sharing the very real image. Also read | President Donald...Duck?: Elon Musk claims Google biased against Trump, interfering in US Elections Taking to social media platform X, the user 'End Wokeness' said, "Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg called the Trump fist image 'one of the most badass things I've ever seen' 10 days ago. Facebook is now censoring that image." Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg called the Trump fist image "one of the most badass things I've ever seen" 10 days ago. Facebook is now censoring that image. pic.twitter.com/7ErQ7kZWaR — End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) July 29, 2024 × The post had over 884k views within 15 hours. Also on X, Dani Lever, a spokesperson for Meta, Facebook's parent company, admitted the "mistake" on Monday. "Yes, this was an error," Lever stated on X, responding to conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. Also read | Trump calls Olympics opening ceremony a 'disgrace', 'Last Supper' drag show a 'terrible thing'. Here's why "This fact check was initially applied to a doctored photo showing the secret service agents smiling, and in some cases our systems incorrectly applied that fact check to the real photo," she explained. "This has been fixed and we apologise for the mistake," she further said. Yes, this was an error. This fact check was initially applied to a doctored photo showing the secret service agents smiling, and in some cases our systems incorrectly applied that fact check to the real photo. This has been fixed and we apologize for the mistake. — Dani Lever (@Dani_Lever) July 29, 2024 × The clarification has been met with scepticism from some X users, with remarks suggesting that such errors disproportionately affect conservative viewpoints. One user noted, "Funny that the 'errors' only ever go in one direction," while others expressed disbelief and frustration over Meta's handling of the situation. Meta Chatbot AI calls Trump assassination "fictional" Facebook has also come under fire for incorrectly referring to the assassination attempt as "fictional" in some responses. Users reported on social media that when asked about Donald Trump's July 13 assassination attempt, the Meta AI chatbot called it a "fictional event". In contrast, it readily answered questions about Trump's political rival Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential campaign, calling that a "real and ongoing event". Meta AI says the Trump assassination attempt is a fictional event. Huh? But I was a "conspiracy theorist" for saying that the covid vaccines weren't researched enough. OK 🤡 pic.twitter.com/Z1vdOKvGj4 — Aida Reva (@RevaAida) July 29, 2024 × A Meta spokesperson, as per the New York Post, has acknowledged the problem and stated that efforts are underway to correct inaccuracies in the chatbot's responses. Google and election interference Google has also faced criticism, particularly regarding its search engine's autocomplete function that, when searched for "President Donald" skipped "Trump" in results. Instead, it came up with "President Donald Duck" and "President Donald Reagan". (With inputs from agencies)

Facebook targeting Trump? Meta calls July 13 assassination attempt 'fictional event' and 'misinformation'

Meta Platforms is close to having to pay its first antitrust fine in the European Union, according to those familiar with the matter, after regulators have decided the company's alleged anti-competitive practices.

The tech giant is under pressure over its classified ads service, Facebook Marketplace, which the EU Commission believes has been unfairly bundled with the core Facebook social network.

Furthermore, it's alleged by the Commission that Meta has imposed unfavourable terms on rival classified ad services advertising on its platforms.

It could be as high as $13.4 billion, although past EU fines indicate that the actual fine will likely be much lower.

The Commission is to adopt its final decision in the next few months before antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager leaves in November.

Meta has always denied any wrongdoing, arguing its product innovations benefit consumers and rivals alike. Indeed, it even attempted to settle an investigation by offering limits on how it uses competitor advertising data to boost Facebook Marketplace, but this was rejected by the EU.

It is the latest of a line in regulatory challenges for Meta, already facing a separate charge at the Commission over its failure to comply with new tech rules about its ad model.

With the digital world evolving, there has been increased pressure on tech giants to observe antitrust regulations.

If the court rules against Meta, this could dramatically change how it works in Europe and might set a legally binding precedent for future antitrust actions against other tech companies.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Meta Platforms is close to having to pay its first antitrust fine in the European Union, according to those familiar with the matter, after regulators have decided the company's alleged anti-competitive practices.

Meta Platforms is close to having to pay its first antitrust fine in the European Union, according to those familiar with the matter, after regulators have decided the company's alleged anti-competitive practices. The tech giant is under pressure over its classified ads service, Facebook Marketplace, which the EU Commission believes has been unfairly bundled with the core Facebook social network. Furthermore, it's alleged by the Commission that Meta has imposed unfavourable terms on rival classified ad services advertising on its platforms. It could be as high as $13.4 billion, although past EU fines indicate that the actual fine will likely be much lower. The Commission is to adopt its final decision in the next few months before antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager leaves in November. Meta has always denied any wrongdoing, arguing its product innovations benefit consumers and rivals alike. Indeed, it even attempted to settle an investigation by offering limits on how it uses competitor advertising data to boost Facebook Marketplace, but this was rejected by the EU. It is the latest of a line in regulatory challenges for Meta, already facing a separate charge at the Commission over its failure to comply with new tech rules about its ad model. With the digital world evolving, there has been increased pressure on tech giants to observe antitrust regulations. If the court rules against Meta, this could dramatically change how it works in Europe and might set a legally binding precedent for future antitrust actions against other tech companies. (With inputs from Reuters)

Meta braces for first EU antitrust fine

Friday saw a global tech outage that turned out to be quite a headache for social media giant Meta, with massive disruptions at airports, banks, and hospitals. According to a spokesperson at Meta, among those hit by the outage were a number of external vendors who police content on Meta's platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.

A source familiar with the incident says Meta was on high alert—what's internally called a SEV1. According to sources, it is the highest level of warning internally, a "code red" situation where work stops and everyone is fixated on the problem. However, the spokesperson said the company resolved the issues earlier in the day.

"The global CrowdStrike outage earlier today temporarily impacted several of the tools used by some of our vendors. While this caused a small impact to some of our support operations, there was minimal to no impact on our content moderation efforts," the spokesperson said.

Like other social media companies, Meta uses a mix of AI and humans to police millions of posts on its platforms. While some moderation is done in-house, most of it is outsourced to business service vendors. These vendors employ thousands of low-paid workers who assess posts for hate speech, violence, and other violations of Meta's guidelines.

Specifically, this outage affected two important systems: SRT and HumanOps—both are used to route flagged content to moderators. The key vendors whose operations were impacted by this disruption included Teleperformance and Concentrix. Teleperformance did not respond to a request for comment. Concentrix said it was monitoring and addressing the impacts of the outage, but its operations continued at expected levels.

This incident has brought to the fore the weaknesses in Meta's content moderation infrastructure, which depends a great deal on external vendors to keep the integrity of the platforms. All through this, though, the pliability and strength of Meta's systems will always be a crucial factor in ensuring seamless content moderation and user experience.

Friday saw a global tech outage that turned out to be quite a headache for social media giant Meta, with massive disruptions at airports, banks, and hospitals. According to a spokesperson at Meta, among those hit by the outage were a number of external vendors who police content on Meta's platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.

Friday saw a global tech outage that turned out to be quite a headache for social media giant Meta, with massive disruptions at airports, banks, and hospitals. According to a spokesperson at Meta, among those hit by the outage were a number of external vendors who police content on Meta's platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads. A source familiar with the incident says Meta was on high alert—what's internally called a SEV1. According to sources, it is the highest level of warning internally, a "code red" situation where work stops and everyone is fixated on the problem. However, the spokesperson said the company resolved the issues earlier in the day. "The global CrowdStrike outage earlier today temporarily impacted several of the tools used by some of our vendors. While this caused a small impact to some of our support operations, there was minimal to no impact on our content moderation efforts," the spokesperson said. Like other social media companies, Meta uses a mix of AI and humans to police millions of posts on its platforms. While some moderation is done in-house, most of it is outsourced to business service vendors. These vendors employ thousands of low-paid workers who assess posts for hate speech, violence, and other violations of Meta's guidelines. Specifically, this outage affected two important systems: SRT and HumanOps—both are used to route flagged content to moderators. The key vendors whose operations were impacted by this disruption included Teleperformance and Concentrix. Teleperformance did not respond to a request for comment. Concentrix said it was monitoring and addressing the impacts of the outage, but its operations continued at expected levels. This incident has brought to the fore the weaknesses in Meta's content moderation infrastructure, which depends a great deal on external vendors to keep the integrity of the platforms. All through this, though, the pliability and strength of Meta's systems will always be a crucial factor in ensuring seamless content moderation and user experience.

Meta faces 'SEV1' crisis amid global tech outage disruptions

Meta has announced the removal of previous restrictions on the Facebook and Instagram accounts of former President Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections.

Trump was initially allowed to return to these social networks in 2023 with specific "guardrails" in place, following a ban related to his online behaviour during the January 6 Capitol insurrection.

Meta has now lifted these guardrails.

"In assessing our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for president on the same basis," Meta stated in a blog post.

The development comes ahead of the Republican National Convention next week in which the presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will be formally named&nbsp;the party’s candidate.

Meta confirmed that Trump’s accounts will no longer be subject to heightened suspension penalties, which were established in response to "extreme and extraordinary circumstances" but have not been used.

"All US presidential candidates remain subject to the same community standards as all Facebook and Instagram users, including those policies designed to prevent hate speech and incitement to violence," Meta emphasized in its blog post.

Since his reinstatement on Meta's platforms, Trump has primarily used his accounts to share campaign information, criticise Democratic candidate Joe Biden, and post memes. Trump himself has not engaged in hyper-aggressive posts on X (Twitter) as was the case before January 6, 2021.&nbsp;

Trump critics and online safety advocates have expressed concerns that his return could lead to increased misinformation and incitement of violence similar to the events that led to his initial ban.

The Biden campaign condemned Meta's move&nbsp;calling&nbsp;it a "greedy, reckless decision" and a "direct attack on our safety and our democracy."

"Restoring his access is like handing your car keys to someone you know will drive your car into a crowd and off a cliff," campaign spokesperson Charles Kretchmer Lutvak was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-blames-biden-and-his-people-for-hush-money-conviction-727495">Donald Trump blames 'Biden and his people' for hush money conviction</a>

"It is holding a megaphone for a bonafide racist who will shout his hate and white supremacy from the rooftops and try to take it mainstream."

In addition to Meta platforms, other major social media firms also banned Trump due to his online activity related to the January 6 attack, including Twitter (now X), Snapchat, and YouTube.

Also watch |&nbsp;US: Meta rolls back restrictions on Trump’s social media accounts

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Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter in 2022, allowed Trump back on the platform last year.&nbsp;He returned to YouTube in March 2023 but remains banned from Snapchat.

Trump launched his own social network, TruthSocial, in early 2022.

(With inputs from agencies)

Meta has announced the removal of previous restrictions on the Facebook and Instagram accounts of former President Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections.

Meta has announced the removal of previous restrictions on the Facebook and Instagram accounts of former President Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections. Trump was initially allowed to return to these social networks in 2023 with specific "guardrails" in place, following a ban related to his online behaviour during the January 6 Capitol insurrection. Meta has now lifted these guardrails. "In assessing our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for president on the same basis," Meta stated in a blog post. The development comes ahead of the Republican National Convention next week in which the presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will be formally named the party’s candidate. Meta confirmed that Trump’s accounts will no longer be subject to heightened suspension penalties, which were established in response to "extreme and extraordinary circumstances" but have not been used. "All US presidential candidates remain subject to the same community standards as all Facebook and Instagram users, including those policies designed to prevent hate speech and incitement to violence," Meta emphasized in its blog post. Since his reinstatement on Meta's platforms, Trump has primarily used his accounts to share campaign information, criticise Democratic candidate Joe Biden, and post memes. Trump himself has not engaged in hyper-aggressive posts on X (Twitter) as was the case before January 6, 2021. Trump critics and online safety advocates have expressed concerns that his return could lead to increased misinformation and incitement of violence similar to the events that led to his initial ban. The Biden campaign condemned Meta's move calling it a "greedy, reckless decision" and a "direct attack on our safety and our democracy." "Restoring his access is like handing your car keys to someone you know will drive your car into a crowd and off a cliff," campaign spokesperson Charles Kretchmer Lutvak was quoted as saying by The Guardian. Also read | Donald Trump blames 'Biden and his people' for hush money conviction "It is holding a megaphone for a bonafide racist who will shout his hate and white supremacy from the rooftops and try to take it mainstream." In addition to Meta platforms, other major social media firms also banned Trump due to his online activity related to the January 6 attack, including Twitter (now X), Snapchat, and YouTube. Also watch | US: Meta rolls back restrictions on Trump’s social media accounts × Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter in 2022, allowed Trump back on the platform last year. He returned to YouTube in March 2023 but remains banned from Snapchat. Trump launched his own social network, TruthSocial, in early 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump wins back restriction-free access to Meta platforms

Meta Platforms announced Tuesday it would lift its blanket ban on the term "shaheed," meaning "martyr" in English, following a year-long review by its oversight board, citing the company's approach had been "overbroad".

The social media giant, which operates under Facebook and Instagram, has made many headlines and criticism over its content policy in the Middle East. A 2021 study commissioned by Meta itself, revealed such an approach had an "adverse human rights impact" on Palestinian and other Arabic-speaking users of its services. Criticism escalated when hostilities between Israel and Hamas ratcheted up last October.

The oversight board may be paid for by Meta, but it is independent and began its review last year. It found that "shaheed" was responsible for more content removals on Meta's platforms than any other single word or phrase. A review from March finished with the conclusion that the rules at Meta did not appropriately contemplate the divergent meanings attributed to "shaheed," which led to the takedown of many pieces of content unnecessarily that did not advocate violence.

On Tuesday, Meta acknowledged the findings of the review. According to the company, its own internal tests indicated that the removal of content where "shaheed" was "paired with otherwise violating content ​​captures the most potentially harmful content without disproportionately impacting the voice".&nbsp;

The oversight board welcomed the change, saying Meta's policy had resulted in the censorship of millions of people across its platforms. The change will help create a more inclusive space for Arabic-speaking users and all those talking about sensitive topics.

The decision to lift the blanket ban on "shaheed" is a tectonic change in the content moderation policy of Meta. This change could represent how the company is increasingly recognising that culturally nuanced and context-sensitive approaches to content regulation are needed. Hence, this new policy not only protects the freedom of expression of users but also mitigates possible negative human rights impacts as identified in the 2021 study. This step by Meta sets the precedent for more balanced and inclusive moderation practices of content on its platforms as it refines its policies.

Meta Platforms announced Tuesday it would lift its blanket ban on the term "shaheed," meaning "martyr" in English, following a year-long review by its oversight board, citing the company's approach had been "overbroad".

Meta Platforms announced Tuesday it would lift its blanket ban on the term "shaheed," meaning "martyr" in English, following a year-long review by its oversight board, citing the company's approach had been "overbroad". The social media giant, which operates under Facebook and Instagram, has made many headlines and criticism over its content policy in the Middle East. A 2021 study commissioned by Meta itself, revealed such an approach had an "adverse human rights impact" on Palestinian and other Arabic-speaking users of its services. Criticism escalated when hostilities between Israel and Hamas ratcheted up last October. The oversight board may be paid for by Meta, but it is independent and began its review last year. It found that "shaheed" was responsible for more content removals on Meta's platforms than any other single word or phrase. A review from March finished with the conclusion that the rules at Meta did not appropriately contemplate the divergent meanings attributed to "shaheed," which led to the takedown of many pieces of content unnecessarily that did not advocate violence. On Tuesday, Meta acknowledged the findings of the review. According to the company, its own internal tests indicated that the removal of content where "shaheed" was "paired with otherwise violating content captures the most potentially harmful content without disproportionately impacting the voice". The oversight board welcomed the change, saying Meta's policy had resulted in the censorship of millions of people across its platforms. The change will help create a more inclusive space for Arabic-speaking users and all those talking about sensitive topics. The decision to lift the blanket ban on "shaheed" is a tectonic change in the content moderation policy of Meta. This change could represent how the company is increasingly recognising that culturally nuanced and context-sensitive approaches to content regulation are needed. Hence, this new policy not only protects the freedom of expression of users but also mitigates possible negative human rights impacts as identified in the 2021 study. This step by Meta sets the precedent for more balanced and inclusive moderation practices of content on its platforms as it refines its policies.

Meta lifts ban on 'shaheed': balancing moderation with cultural sensitivity

Meta accused by EU regulators of breaching antitrust rules over its ad-supported subscription service. The European commission labels Meta's model a "pay or consent" approach, requiring users to either pay for an ad-free experience or agree to personalized advertising based on data processing. Introduced last year for Facebook and Instagram in Europe, this service arose from privacy concerns and a European court of justice ruling.

EU accuses Meta of breaching antitrust rules

European Union regulators accused social media company Meta Platforms on Monday of breaching the bloc’s new digital competition rule book by forcing Facebook and Instagram users to choose between seeing ads or paying to avoid them.

EU accuses Meta of breaking digital rules with ad-free option

Meta, the parent firm of Facebook, will not rule out blocking news content in Australia should the government slap licensing fees. The regional policy director at Meta, Mia Garlick, gave testimony to this end at a parliamentary hearing on Friday.

Asked if Meta would block news content in the country, Garlick said "all options are on the table".&nbsp;

"There's a large number of channels that people can get news content from," Garlick told the inquiry.

She said Meta was waiting for Canberra to decide on applying an untested 2021 law that gives the government powers to compel US tech giants to pay fees to media outlets for links.

These comments are the clearest sign to date that it might take on a similar aggressive stance in Australia as it did last year in Canada at the tabling of such legislation.&nbsp;

Meta cut deals with Australian media companies including News Corp and the Australian Broadcasting Corp when the law was brought in Australia, but has since announced it won't renew these deals beyond 2024.

The Australian assistant treasurer has been left to decide whether to compel Meta FB to pay for news content. The assistant treasurer claimed that Meta seems to abide by the law only when it best serves the company.

Garlick explained that Meta might block news, as whatever it did would still be in compliance with the law. She added that Meta adheres to various laws, including tax, safety, and privacy laws, and therefore, the kind of compliance will differ in case this law is fully enacted.

"Every other law - tax laws, safety laws, privacy laws - we work to comply with," she said. "It's just compliance would look slightly different in relation to this law if it's fully enacted."

On the handling of misinformation and scams by Meta, Garlick said the content moderation centers cater to it from outside Australia, but there are reporting processes in place for Australians. She responded to concerns about scam ads-like those featuring Australian mining billionaire Andrew Forrest-by pointing out that detecting and stopping scams is very challenging, but Meta is indeed doing so.

How could Meta call itself an advertising business when "some ads sell lies", asked Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

"We have policies and systems and tools to do everything we can to prevent those ads," Garlick replied.

Meta, the parent firm of Facebook, will not rule out blocking news content in Australia should the government slap licensing fees. The regional policy director at Meta, Mia Garlick, gave testimony to this end at a parliamentary hearing on Friday.

Meta, the parent firm of Facebook, will not rule out blocking news content in Australia should the government slap licensing fees. The regional policy director at Meta, Mia Garlick, gave testimony to this end at a parliamentary hearing on Friday. Asked if Meta would block news content in the country, Garlick said "all options are on the table". "There's a large number of channels that people can get news content from," Garlick told the inquiry. She said Meta was waiting for Canberra to decide on applying an untested 2021 law that gives the government powers to compel US tech giants to pay fees to media outlets for links. These comments are the clearest sign to date that it might take on a similar aggressive stance in Australia as it did last year in Canada at the tabling of such legislation. Meta cut deals with Australian media companies including News Corp and the Australian Broadcasting Corp when the law was brought in Australia, but has since announced it won't renew these deals beyond 2024. The Australian assistant treasurer has been left to decide whether to compel Meta FB to pay for news content. The assistant treasurer claimed that Meta seems to abide by the law only when it best serves the company. Garlick explained that Meta might block news, as whatever it did would still be in compliance with the law. She added that Meta adheres to various laws, including tax, safety, and privacy laws, and therefore, the kind of compliance will differ in case this law is fully enacted. "Every other law - tax laws, safety laws, privacy laws - we work to comply with," she said. "It's just compliance would look slightly different in relation to this law if it's fully enacted." On the handling of misinformation and scams by Meta, Garlick said the content moderation centers cater to it from outside Australia, but there are reporting processes in place for Australians. She responded to concerns about scam ads-like those featuring Australian mining billionaire Andrew Forrest-by pointing out that detecting and stopping scams is very challenging, but Meta is indeed doing so. How could Meta call itself an advertising business when "some ads sell lies", asked Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. "We have policies and systems and tools to do everything we can to prevent those ads," Garlick replied.

Meta's bold move: news blackout looms over Australia's licensing fee standoff

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Monday (June 17) called for warning labels to be placed on social media apps to alert users, especially youths, of the dangers associated with the use of such applications.&nbsp;

<h2>'Surgeon General's warning label'</h2>

In an opinion piece he penned for the New York Times, Murthy pointed out that while&nbsp;a warning label alone might not alleviate all the issues around&nbsp;social&nbsp;media, it could at least increase awareness&nbsp;and perhaps change behaviour — much like the impact warning labels have had on tobacco.&nbsp;

"It is time to require a surgeon general's warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents," wrote Murthy.&nbsp;

Such a step would not be carried out on Murthy's advice alone and would need the US Congress legislation.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-slams-republicans-over-deceptive-cheapfake-videos-of-bidens-mental-decline-732657">White House slams Republicans over deceptive 'cheapfake' videos of Biden's alleged mental decline</a>

<h2>Social media and the threats children face online</h2>

The recent call by Murthy for a warning label is part of broader concerns around growing mental health problems among youngsters stemming from the use of social media, reports Reuters.

Although social media companies such as TikTok, Snap, and Meta Platforms (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) have yet to comment on Murthy's proposal, they have already got into hot water with policymakers over online child safety.

Previously, in January, US Senators&nbsp;grilled the CEOs&nbsp;of the three companies about online child safety. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham had even accused them of having "blood on your hands," for failing to protect young users from sexual predators.

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/florida-bans-children-under-14-from-using-social-media-14-15-year-olds-will-need-parental-consent-704218" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/florida-bans-children-under-14-from-using-social-media-14-15-year-olds-will-need-parental-consent-704218&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwitrt6FteSGAxWZslYBHRJoDGMQFnoECAAQAg&amp;usg=AOvVaw0hqGVmfU6caEQWS-EDVq0M&amp;arm=e&amp;fexp=72519171,72519168,72638199,72638200" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/florida-bans-children-under-14-from-using-social-media-14-15-year-olds-will-need-parental-consent-704218" target="_blank">Florida&nbsp;bans&nbsp;children&nbsp;under 14 from using social media</a>

The concerns have also led to some US states regulating social media use by minors. New York recently passed legislation restricting certain algorithmic content for those under 18 without parental consent. In Florida, a bill passed in March requires children aged 14 and 15 to receive parental consent for the use of social media; children under 14 are banned from using such apps.

Critics of social media include youth advocates and lawmakers, who say it is breeding shortened attention spans, a negative body image&nbsp;and heightened susceptibility to online bullying and predators. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Monday (June 17) called for warning labels to be placed on social media apps to alert users, especially youths, of the dangers associated with the use of such applications.

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on Monday (June 17) called for warning labels to be placed on social media apps to alert users, especially youths, of the dangers associated with the use of such applications. 'Surgeon General's warning label' In an opinion piece he penned for the New York Times, Murthy pointed out that while a warning label alone might not alleviate all the issues around social media, it could at least increase awareness and perhaps change behaviour — much like the impact warning labels have had on tobacco. "It is time to require a surgeon general's warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents," wrote Murthy. Such a step would not be carried out on Murthy's advice alone and would need the US Congress legislation. Also read | White House slams Republicans over deceptive 'cheapfake' videos of Biden's alleged mental decline Social media and the threats children face online The recent call by Murthy for a warning label is part of broader concerns around growing mental health problems among youngsters stemming from the use of social media, reports Reuters. Although social media companies such as TikTok, Snap, and Meta Platforms (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) have yet to comment on Murthy's proposal, they have already got into hot water with policymakers over online child safety. Previously, in January, US Senators grilled the CEOs of the three companies about online child safety. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham had even accused them of having "blood on your hands," for failing to protect young users from sexual predators. Also read | Florida bans children under 14 from using social media The concerns have also led to some US states regulating social media use by minors. New York recently passed legislation restricting certain algorithmic content for those under 18 without parental consent. In Florida, a bill passed in March requires children aged 14 and 15 to receive parental consent for the use of social media; children under 14 are banned from using such apps. Critics of social media include youth advocates and lawmakers, who say it is breeding shortened attention spans, a negative body image and heightened susceptibility to online bullying and predators. (With inputs from agencies)

Warning labels on social media? Vivek Murthy calls for 'surgeon general's warning label' for child safety

Meta has reported that Facebook is attracting its most young adult users in 3 years. More than 40 million us and Canadian adults to aged 18 to 29 now check Facebook daily.

Meta's Facebook sees highest number of young adult users in three years

Open AI, the creators of ChatGPT and Meta, which is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp has said that they have acted on content which is being used to influence Indian elections and further Khalistani propaganda.

OpenAI highlighted in their report "AI and Covert Influence Operations: Latest Trends" that they disrupted activities of an Israeli commercial company, STOIC which was involved in generating content related to the Gaza conflict and Indian elections.&nbsp;

Initially targeting audiences in Canada, the US, and Israel with content in English and Hebrew, STOIC shifted its focus to India in early May, generating English-language web articles and social media comments critical of the ruling BJP party and supportive of the opposition Congress party.&nbsp;

OpenAI stated, "in May, we disrupted some activity focused on the Indian elections less than 24 hours after it began."

The report added, "the network began generating comments that focused on India, criticized the ruling BJP party and praised the opposition Congress party."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/meta-reveals-how-china-hosted-facebook-accounts-to-create-pro-khalistan-discord-727433">Meta reveals how China hosted Facebook accounts to create pro-Khalistan discord</a>

Simultaneously, Meta's "Adversarial Threat Report" revealed the removal of multiple accounts linked to a network originating in China supporting Khalistani propaganda. Meta's report said it removed "37 Facebook accounts, 13 Pages, five Groups, and nine accounts on Instagram for violating our policy against coordinated inauthentic behavior."&nbsp;

The network targeted the global Sikh community across various countries, including Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, the UK, and Nigeria. 
&nbsp; 
The operation "used compromised and fake accounts – some of which were detected and disabled by our automated systems prior to our investigation – to pose as Sikhs, post content and manage Pages and Groups" and "appeared to have created a fictitious activist movement called Operation K which called for pro-Sikh protests, including in New Zealand and Australia".

Also watch |&nbsp;India elections 2024: Meta launches India-specific elections operations centre

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The report said that "they posted primarily in English and Hindi about news and current events, including images likely manipulated by photo editing tools or generated by artificial intelligence, in addition to posts about floods in the Punjab region, the Sikh community worldwide", Khalistani terrorism, killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and "criticism of the Indian government."

The scale of the operation was relatively limited, with about 2,700 accounts following one or more of the affected Facebook Pages, 1,300 accounts joining the Groups, and fewer than 100 accounts following the Instagram profiles. Meta emphasised that "we found and removed this activity early, before it was able to build an audience among authentic communities."

Open AI, the creators of ChatGPT and Meta, which is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp has said that they have acted on content which is being used to influence Indian elections and further Khalistani propaganda.

Open AI, the creators of ChatGPT and Meta, which is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp has said that they have acted on content which is being used to influence Indian elections and further Khalistani propaganda. OpenAI highlighted in their report "AI and Covert Influence Operations: Latest Trends" that they disrupted activities of an Israeli commercial company, STOIC which was involved in generating content related to the Gaza conflict and Indian elections. Initially targeting audiences in Canada, the US, and Israel with content in English and Hebrew, STOIC shifted its focus to India in early May, generating English-language web articles and social media comments critical of the ruling BJP party and supportive of the opposition Congress party. OpenAI stated, "in May, we disrupted some activity focused on the Indian elections less than 24 hours after it began." The report added, "the network began generating comments that focused on India, criticized the ruling BJP party and praised the opposition Congress party." Also read | Meta reveals how China hosted Facebook accounts to create pro-Khalistan discord Simultaneously, Meta's "Adversarial Threat Report" revealed the removal of multiple accounts linked to a network originating in China supporting Khalistani propaganda. Meta's report said it removed "37 Facebook accounts, 13 Pages, five Groups, and nine accounts on Instagram for violating our policy against coordinated inauthentic behavior." The network targeted the global Sikh community across various countries, including Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, the UK, and Nigeria. The operation "used compromised and fake accounts – some of which were detected and disabled by our automated systems prior to our investigation – to pose as Sikhs, post content and manage Pages and Groups" and "appeared to have created a fictitious activist movement called Operation K which called for pro-Sikh protests, including in New Zealand and Australia". Also watch | India elections 2024: Meta launches India-specific elections operations centre × The report said that "they posted primarily in English and Hindi about news and current events, including images likely manipulated by photo editing tools or generated by artificial intelligence, in addition to posts about floods in the Punjab region, the Sikh community worldwide", Khalistani terrorism, killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and "criticism of the Indian government." The scale of the operation was relatively limited, with about 2,700 accounts following one or more of the affected Facebook Pages, 1,300 accounts joining the Groups, and fewer than 100 accounts following the Instagram profiles. Meta emphasised that "we found and removed this activity early, before it was able to build an audience among authentic communities."

OpenAI disrupts attempts made by Israel-based company to interfere in India elections

China is accused of hosting a cluster of fake Facebook and Instagram accounts which targeted the Sikh community across the world to propagate pro-Khalistan sentiments.&nbsp;

Facebook and Instagram-owner Meta said in its 'Adversarial Threat Report' that they removed 37 Facebook accounts, 13 pages, five groups and nine Instagram accounts for violating its policy against "coordinated inauthentic behaviour".&nbsp;

"This network originated in China and targeted the global Sikh community, including in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, the UK, and Nigeria," Meta said in its Q1 2024 Adversarial Threat Report.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-framed-india-in-pro-khalistan-leader-nijjars-assassination-alleges-us-based-chinese-blogger-644388">China framed India in pro-Khalistan leader Nijjar`s `assassination`, alleges US-based Chinese blogger</a>

Meta added that this activity included several clusters of fake accounts originating from China that targeted India and the Tibet region.&nbsp;

"Some of these clusters amplified one another with most of their engagement coming from their own fake accounts, likely to make this campaign more popular than it was," Meta report added, reflecting the way the Khalistani separatist movement remains deeply denounced within the Sikh community itself.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas | Did China hack into Indian government offices?

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"This operation used compromised and fake accounts -- some of which were detected and disabled by our automated systems prior to our investigation -- to pose as Sikhs, post content and manage Pages and Groups," Meta further said.

<h2>China behind fictitious 'Operation K' online movement</h2>

China-based network created a fictitious Operation K which called for "pro-Sikh protests", including in New Zealand and Australia, the&nbsp;Meta report added.

It also&nbsp;claimed that it found and removed this 'Operation K' activity before it could build an audience among authentic communities.

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META says it removed China linked FB, Insta accounts that targeted Global Sikh Community. These accounts posted in English, Hindi on 'Khalistan 
movement, killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar &amp; criticism of the Indian government'. Excerpts from the report: <a href="https://t.co/kNxRCgsMeq">pic.twitter.com/kNxRCgsMeq</a>
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) <a href="https://twitter.com/sidhant/status/1796502527195898097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2024</a></blockquote>
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"They posted primarily in English and Hindi about news and current events, including images likely manipulated by photo editing tools or generated by artificial intelligence, in addition to posts about floods in the Punjab region, the Sikh community worldwide, the Khalistan independence movement, the assassination of [Khalistani terrorist] Hardeep Singh Nijjar and criticism of the Indian government," Meta said.

China is accused of hosting a cluster of fake Facebook and Instagram accounts which targeted the Sikh community across the world to propagate pro-Khalistan sentiments.

China is accused of hosting a cluster of fake Facebook and Instagram accounts which targeted the Sikh community across the world to propagate pro-Khalistan sentiments. Facebook and Instagram-owner Meta said in its 'Adversarial Threat Report' that they removed 37 Facebook accounts, 13 pages, five groups and nine Instagram accounts for violating its policy against "coordinated inauthentic behaviour". "This network originated in China and targeted the global Sikh community, including in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, the UK, and Nigeria," Meta said in its Q1 2024 Adversarial Threat Report. Also read | China framed India in pro-Khalistan leader Nijjar`s `assassination`, alleges US-based Chinese blogger Meta added that this activity included several clusters of fake accounts originating from China that targeted India and the Tibet region. "Some of these clusters amplified one another with most of their engagement coming from their own fake accounts, likely to make this campaign more popular than it was," Meta report added, reflecting the way the Khalistani separatist movement remains deeply denounced within the Sikh community itself. Also watch | Gravitas | Did China hack into Indian government offices? × "This operation used compromised and fake accounts -- some of which were detected and disabled by our automated systems prior to our investigation -- to pose as Sikhs, post content and manage Pages and Groups," Meta further said. China behind fictitious 'Operation K' online movement China-based network created a fictitious Operation K which called for "pro-Sikh protests", including in New Zealand and Australia, the Meta report added. It also claimed that it found and removed this 'Operation K' activity before it could build an audience among authentic communities. META says it removed China linked FB, Insta accounts that targeted Global Sikh Community. These accounts posted in English, Hindi on 'Khalistan movement, killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar & criticism of the Indian government'. Excerpts from the report: pic.twitter.com/kNxRCgsMeq — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) May 31, 2024 × "They posted primarily in English and Hindi about news and current events, including images likely manipulated by photo editing tools or generated by artificial intelligence, in addition to posts about floods in the Punjab region, the Sikh community worldwide, the Khalistan independence movement, the assassination of [Khalistani terrorist] Hardeep Singh Nijjar and criticism of the Indian government," Meta said.

Meta reveals how China hosted Facebook accounts to create pro-Khalistan discord

US officials are warning big tech companies like Google and Meta about potential risks and espionage by Chinese repair ships in the undersea cables that carry internet traffic across the Pacific Ocean.

Repair ships can tap data through undersea cables: Reports | US warns Google of Chinese repair ships

Meta's Facebook and Instagram applications were down for thousands of users worldwide on Wednesday (May15), according to outage tracking website Downdetector.

Earlier in March this year, Meta experienced a technical issue that resulted in login disruptions for a significant number of Facebook and Instagram users.

According to the Downdetector data, there were over 18,000 reports of users facing problems with accessing the Instagram application.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-attempt-to-recreate-50000-year-old-ancient-herpes-viruses-721541">Scientists attempt to recreate 50,000 year-old ancient 'herpes' viruses</a>

Around 59 per cent of users faced issues in accessing the Instagram app, while 34 per cent faced server connection issues and seven per cent were not able to log in.

The website collates status reports from several sources, including users.

The internet monitoring group NetBlocks also shared a post on X informing that the two social media websites were currently experiencing ‘international outages’.&nbsp;

The post on X by NetBlocks stated, "Meta platforms including Instagram and Facebook are currently experiencing international outages; incident not related to country-level internet disruptions or filtering #InstagramDown #FacebookDown".

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ℹ️ Note: Meta platforms including Instagram and Facebook are currently experiencing international outages; incident not related to country-level internet disruptions or filtering <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InstagramDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InstagramDown</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FacebookDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FacebookDown</a> <a href="https://t.co/ubAvqkpjj9">pic.twitter.com/ubAvqkpjj9</a>
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) <a href="https://twitter.com/netblocks/status/1790558316055183417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Several users took to X to share the issues they were facing with Facebook and Instagram.

Some users encountered a message saying "Something went wrong. There's an issue and the page could not be loaded," while others saw an "error loading media" message.

Netizens reacted to Instagram and Facebook outage

One user wrote, “anyone else's instagram and facebook playing silly buggers? down detector has them both playing up.”

Another one said, “Instagram is down and it’s not working properly. Apparently Facebook is down, but I’m not having any issues with it. I hope they fix it soon. #instagramisdown.”

A third wrote, “Everyone rushing to Twitter/X to see if Facebook/Instagram is down.”

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Everyone rushing to Twitter/X to see if Facebook/Instagram is down. 
 
<a href="https://t.co/USycPvoGut">https://t.co/USycPvoGut</a>
— AZ Intel | Personal (@Andreaz_Intel) <a href="https://twitter.com/Andreaz_Intel/status/1790558874426036363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from agencies)

Meta's Facebook and Instagram applications were down for thousands of users worldwide on Wednesday (May15), according to outage tracking website Downdetector. Earlier in March this year, Meta experienced a technical issue that resulted in login disruptions for a significant number of Facebook and Instagram users.

Meta's Facebook and Instagram applications were down for thousands of users worldwide on Wednesday (May15), according to outage tracking website Downdetector. Earlier in March this year, Meta experienced a technical issue that resulted in login disruptions for a significant number of Facebook and Instagram users. According to the Downdetector data, there were over 18,000 reports of users facing problems with accessing the Instagram application. Also read: Scientists attempt to recreate 50,000 year-old ancient 'herpes' viruses Around 59 per cent of users faced issues in accessing the Instagram app, while 34 per cent faced server connection issues and seven per cent were not able to log in. The website collates status reports from several sources, including users. The internet monitoring group NetBlocks also shared a post on X informing that the two social media websites were currently experiencing ‘international outages’. The post on X by NetBlocks stated, "Meta platforms including Instagram and Facebook are currently experiencing international outages; incident not related to country-level internet disruptions or filtering #InstagramDown #FacebookDown". ℹ️ Note: Meta platforms including Instagram and Facebook are currently experiencing international outages; incident not related to country-level internet disruptions or filtering #InstagramDown #FacebookDown pic.twitter.com/ubAvqkpjj9 — NetBlocks (@netblocks) May 15, 2024 × Several users took to X to share the issues they were facing with Facebook and Instagram. Some users encountered a message saying "Something went wrong. There's an issue and the page could not be loaded," while others saw an "error loading media" message. Netizens reacted to Instagram and Facebook outage One user wrote, “anyone else's instagram and facebook playing silly buggers? down detector has them both playing up.” Another one said, “Instagram is down and it’s not working properly. Apparently Facebook is down, but I’m not having any issues with it. I hope they fix it soon. #instagramisdown.” A third wrote, “Everyone rushing to Twitter/X to see if Facebook/Instagram is down.” Everyone rushing to Twitter/X to see if Facebook/Instagram is down. https://t.co/USycPvoGut — AZ Intel | Personal (@Andreaz_Intel) May 15, 2024 × (With inputs from agencies)

Instagram, Facebook down for thousands of users globally

US Presidential candidate Robert F Keneddy has filed a lawsuit that claims Meta has interferd in the US Presidential elections - locking one of his political advertisments. The lawsuit has been filed in the Federal Court of San Francisco.

Robert F Keneddy Jr sues Meta, accuse of blocking his political advertisment

According to report in March Meta got over 27,000 complaints on Facebook and Instagram from India about synthetic content. Watch in for more details!

Meta India: 27,000 complaints in March, fake FB & Instagram profiles key concern

Let's take a look at all the news coming in from the world of technology on WION World DNA.

Telegram unblocks chatbots used by Ukraine's services | EU to probe Meta's handling of disinfomation

The European Union on Tuesday launched an investigation into Meta's Facebook and Instagram over concerns the platforms are failing to counter disinformation ahead of EU elections in June. Watch in for more details!

EU probe Meta over election-related content

The European Union has launched a probe against US tech giant Meta over allegations that it has not done enough to rein in disinformation and foreign interference&nbsp;ahead of&nbsp;upcoming EU elections. The European Commission said Monday (Apr 29) the investigation was focussed on Meta’s policy towards foreign advertisers&nbsp;as well as&nbsp;the closure of a tool widely used by journalists and civil groups to monitor trends on the social media site.

<h2>Is Meta violating EU’s Digital Services Act?</h2>

With the latest action, the regulators are flexing the Digital Services Act,&nbsp;the&nbsp;EU’s prime law governing online platforms.&nbsp;

Meta is drawing flak for lowering the visibility of political content in the users’&nbsp;feed&nbsp;as EU regulators say this could be violating DSA’s transparency rules. Additionally, they claim Meta is not providing users with tools to report illegal content on the platform, another violation of the DSA.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiHkqaK8ueFAxWYjK8BHeAvBF4QxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/metas-whatsapp-and-threads-removed-from-apple-app-store-in-china-712897" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/technology/metas-whatsapp-and-threads-removed-from-apple-app-store-in-china-712897&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiHkqaK8ueFAxWYjK8BHeAvBF4QxfQBKAB6BAgPEAE">Meta`s WhatsApp and Threads removed from Apple app store in China</a>

Meta also discontinued CrowdTangle, a widely-used tool&nbsp;used by civil society groups&nbsp;to track trending conversations on Facebook and Instagram.&nbsp;The tool will go offline after&nbsp;August 14.

EU says Meta’s decision to discontinue the tool without providing an efficient alternative “could result in damage to civic discourse and electoral processes in relation to the mis- and disinformation tracking capabilities, identification of voter interference and suppression, and the overall real-time transparency provided to fact-checkers, journalists&nbsp;and&nbsp;other relevant&nbsp; electoral&nbsp;stakeholders.”

<h2>How can&nbsp;EU punish Meta?</h2>

As per DSA, if allegations against Meta are confirmed, the&nbsp;EU can impose fines of up to 6&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of the company’s total global revenue.

Meta has said the company will cooperate with the EU authorities.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiHkqaK8ueFAxWYjK8BHeAvBF4QxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/metas-stock-falls-as-higher-ai-spending-modest-revenue-forecast-disappoints-investors-714742" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/metas-stock-falls-as-higher-ai-spending-modest-revenue-forecast-disappoints-investors-714742&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiHkqaK8ueFAxWYjK8BHeAvBF4QxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE">Meta`s stock falls as higher AI spending, modest revenue forecast disappoint investors</a>

“We have a well-established process for identifying and mitigating risks on our platforms,” a spokesperson for the company said. “We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the European Commission and providing them with further details of this work,” the statement added.

Last fall, Meta submitted&nbsp;required documents to the EU in which it highlighted how it plans to tackle risks associated with its online tools. However, the concerns are that Meta has failed to do its job diligently.

(With inputs from agencies)

The European Union has launched a probe against US tech giant Meta over allegations that it has not done enough to rein in disinformation and foreign interference ahead of upcoming EU elections.

The European Union has launched a probe against US tech giant Meta over allegations that it has not done enough to rein in disinformation and foreign interference ahead of upcoming EU elections. The European Commission said Monday (Apr 29) the investigation was focussed on Meta’s policy towards foreign advertisers as well as the closure of a tool widely used by journalists and civil groups to monitor trends on the social media site. Is Meta violating EU’s Digital Services Act? With the latest action, the regulators are flexing the Digital Services Act, the EU’s prime law governing online platforms. Meta is drawing flak for lowering the visibility of political content in the users’ feed as EU regulators say this could be violating DSA’s transparency rules. Additionally, they claim Meta is not providing users with tools to report illegal content on the platform, another violation of the DSA. Also read: Meta`s WhatsApp and Threads removed from Apple app store in China Meta also discontinued CrowdTangle, a widely-used tool used by civil society groups to track trending conversations on Facebook and Instagram. The tool will go offline after August 14. EU says Meta’s decision to discontinue the tool without providing an efficient alternative “could result in damage to civic discourse and electoral processes in relation to the mis- and disinformation tracking capabilities, identification of voter interference and suppression, and the overall real-time transparency provided to fact-checkers, journalists and other relevant electoral stakeholders.” How can EU punish Meta? As per DSA, if allegations against Meta are confirmed, the EU can impose fines of up to 6 per cent of the company’s total global revenue. Meta has said the company will cooperate with the EU authorities. Also read: Meta`s stock falls as higher AI spending, modest revenue forecast disappoint investors “We have a well-established process for identifying and mitigating risks on our platforms,” a spokesperson for the company said. “We look forward to continuing our cooperation with the European Commission and providing them with further details of this work,” the statement added. Last fall, Meta submitted required documents to the EU in which it highlighted how it plans to tackle risks associated with its online tools. However, the concerns are that Meta has failed to do its job diligently. (With inputs from agencies)

EU flexes arms as it launches probe against Meta over disinformation concerns

The Meta stock price took a bit of a beating dropping nearly about 13% after the company's earnings report. Investors were spooked by Meta's increased focus on artificial intelligence and the significant spending that is required for this ambitious plan. The CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized the long-term potential of AI but has cautioned that these Investments would not translate into immediate revenue and this lack of short-term Financial gains has spooked investors wiping nearly $170 billion of Meta's market value.

Microsoft & Alphabet stocks fall on Meta earnings spillover

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, faced a downturn in its stock value on Wednesday as it revealed projections of increased expenses and revenue figures below market expectations. <o:p></o:p>

According to Reuters, the announcement prompted a loss of about $200 billion in its market capitalisation, with shares falling by approximately 15 per cent in after-hours trading. <o:p></o:p>

This decline saw Meta's market cap plummet to around $1 trillion, noting one of the most substantial single-day losses in market value for a US company. <o:p></o:p>

The drop was slightly away from the record set on February 3, 2022, when Meta suffered a $232 billion one-day loss. <o:p></o:p>

Meta's discouraging performance rippled through the tech industry, with shares of Alphabet and Microsoft also experiencing declines in extended trade. <o:p></o:p>

Concerns increased among investors that the growing costs associated with the race in artificial intelligence (AI) might be outweighing the projected benefits for these tech giants. <o:p></o:p>

This apprehension comes ahead of Alphabet and Microsoft's financial reports scheduled for Thursday.<o:p></o:p>

The company disclosed its revenue forecast for the April-June quarter, estimating it to range between $36.5 billion and $39 billion, with a midpoint of $37.8 billion. <o:p></o:p>

However, these figures fell short of analysts' projections, which averaged at $38.3 billion. <o:p></o:p>

Meta attributed the anticipated increase in expenses to support investments in new AI products and the requisite computing infrastructure. <o:p></o:p>

Moreover, it indicated a continued upward trajectory in spending into the next fiscal year, with the total expense forecast for 2024 raised to $96 billion-$99 billion. <o:p></o:p>

Additionally, Meta adjusted its 2024 capital expenditure projection to a range of $30 billion-$40 billion, up from the previous estimate of $35 billion-$37 billion. <o:p></o:p>

CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlighted the company's quest to expand its investment portfolio in AI, acknowledging that these endeavours would precede substantial revenue generation from the new products. <o:p></o:p>

Mark Zuckerberg's remarks and the quarterly results tempered the optimism surrounding Meta's AI ventures, especially after a string of highly successful quarters for the social media giant. <o:p></o:p>

While the company's AI investments hold significant potential, investors remain cautious, wary of the extended timeline for returns on these investments. <o:p></o:p>

However, analysts note that Meta's entrenched user base across its existing platforms could provide a competitive edge in the AI landscape, particularly concerning eventual monetisation through its advertising ecosystem. <o:p></o:p>

Despite the focus on advancing AI technologies, Meta continues to enhance its advertising capabilities, incorporating AI tools and short video formats to drive revenue growth. <o:p></o:p>

However, analysts caution that Meta must not neglect its core advertising activities amidst its ambitious AI initiatives. <o:p></o:p>

The company's Reality Labs division, oriented towards the metaverse, fell short of expectations in the first quarter, recording sales of $440 million. <o:p></o:p>

While this represented a 30 per cent increase year-on-year, it failed to meet the anticipated revenue of $475 million.<o:p></o:p>

Additionally, Reality Labs incurred a loss of $3.8 billion in the quarter, on track to match the $16 billion loss incurred over the course of 2023. <o:p></o:p>

Zuckerberg outlined potential monetization strategies for Meta's AI chatbot, including its integration into business messaging and customer support services. <o:p></o:p>

Furthermore, Meta stands to potentially benefit from regulatory pressures on its competitor TikTok, which faces the prospect of a US ban. <o:p></o:p>

However, Meta's CFO Susan Li refrained from assessing the business impact of this development on its rival.<o:p></o:p>

Despite the market's reaction to its projections, Meta released a first-quarter revenue of $36.5 billion, in line with expectations. <o:p></o:p>

The company's daily active people (DAP) metric, used to track unique users across its apps, grew by 7 per cent, slightly lower than the 8 per cent growth recorded in the preceding quarter. <o:p></o:p>

Meta also opted to disclose only the DAP figure for user growth, foregoing the previous practice of breaking out numbers for its flagship social network Facebook. <o:p></o:p>

(With inputs from Reuters)<o:p></o:p>

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, faced a downturn in its stock value on Wednesday as it revealed projections of increased expenses and revenue figures below market expectations.

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, faced a downturn in its stock value on Wednesday as it revealed projections of increased expenses and revenue figures below market expectations. According to Reuters, the announcement prompted a loss of about $200 billion in its market capitalisation, with shares falling by approximately 15 per cent in after-hours trading. This decline saw Meta's market cap plummet to around $1 trillion, noting one of the most substantial single-day losses in market value for a US company. The drop was slightly away from the record set on February 3, 2022, when Meta suffered a $232 billion one-day loss. Meta's discouraging performance rippled through the tech industry, with shares of Alphabet and Microsoft also experiencing declines in extended trade. Concerns increased among investors that the growing costs associated with the race in artificial intelligence (AI) might be outweighing the projected benefits for these tech giants. This apprehension comes ahead of Alphabet and Microsoft's financial reports scheduled for Thursday. The company disclosed its revenue forecast for the April-June quarter, estimating it to range between $36.5 billion and $39 billion, with a midpoint of $37.8 billion. However, these figures fell short of analysts' projections, which averaged at $38.3 billion. Meta attributed the anticipated increase in expenses to support investments in new AI products and the requisite computing infrastructure. Moreover, it indicated a continued upward trajectory in spending into the next fiscal year, with the total expense forecast for 2024 raised to $96 billion-$99 billion. Additionally, Meta adjusted its 2024 capital expenditure projection to a range of $30 billion-$40 billion, up from the previous estimate of $35 billion-$37 billion. CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlighted the company's quest to expand its investment portfolio in AI, acknowledging that these endeavours would precede substantial revenue generation from the new products. Mark Zuckerberg's remarks and the quarterly results tempered the optimism surrounding Meta's AI ventures, especially after a string of highly successful quarters for the social media giant. While the company's AI investments hold significant potential, investors remain cautious, wary of the extended timeline for returns on these investments. However, analysts note that Meta's entrenched user base across its existing platforms could provide a competitive edge in the AI landscape, particularly concerning eventual monetisation through its advertising ecosystem. Despite the focus on advancing AI technologies, Meta continues to enhance its advertising capabilities, incorporating AI tools and short video formats to drive revenue growth. However, analysts caution that Meta must not neglect its core advertising activities amidst its ambitious AI initiatives. The company's Reality Labs division, oriented towards the metaverse, fell short of expectations in the first quarter, recording sales of $440 million. While this represented a 30 per cent increase year-on-year, it failed to meet the anticipated revenue of $475 million. Additionally, Reality Labs incurred a loss of $3.8 billion in the quarter, on track to match the $16 billion loss incurred over the course of 2023. Zuckerberg outlined potential monetization strategies for Meta's AI chatbot, including its integration into business messaging and customer support services. Furthermore, Meta stands to potentially benefit from regulatory pressures on its competitor TikTok, which faces the prospect of a US ban. However, Meta's CFO Susan Li refrained from assessing the business impact of this development on its rival. Despite the market's reaction to its projections, Meta released a first-quarter revenue of $36.5 billion, in line with expectations. The company's daily active people (DAP) metric, used to track unique users across its apps, grew by 7 per cent, slightly lower than the 8 per cent growth recorded in the preceding quarter. Meta also opted to disclose only the DAP figure for user growth, foregoing the previous practice of breaking out numbers for its flagship social network Facebook. (With inputs from Reuters)

Meta's stock falls as higher AI spending, modest revenue forecast disappoint investors

Meta’s stock price took a nosedive after the company released its first-quarter earnings report. Investors reacted negatively to forecasts of higher expenses and lower-than-expected revenue. The stock price drop wiped nearly $200 billion off Meta's market capitalisation. This decrease brings Meta's market value down to roughly $1 trillion.

Meta stock plunges after AI spending forecast disappoints investors

Apple on Friday (Apr 19) announced that it had removed&nbsp;WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China. This, the company said, was done in compliance with an order by the Chinese government, which reportedly cited national security concerns.

Even as Threads and WhatsApp were removed, other Meta apps, including Messenger and Instagram, were still available on the Apple app store on Friday morning in China, reported Reuters.

This removal targeting American tech services as per Bloomberg comes as the US government takes steps towards banning TikTok owned by China's ByteDance. US politicians, too, have cited national security concerns as the reason behind the push to either sell TikTok to a non-Chinese owner or be banned in the US market.

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<h2>Security concerns</h2>

In a statement to Reuters, Apple said, "The Cyberspace Administration of China ordered the removal of these apps from the China storefront based on their national security concerns."

"We are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when we disagree," added the tech giant.

The exact cause of security concerns for the Chinese government was not clear at the time this report was published.

However, citing people with expertise in China's tech industry, Reuters reports that the government order could be related to a new rule from last August. This rule requires all apps available in the country to register with the government or risk removal.

The deadline for companies to complete registration was March end, and the regulations went into effect starting April 1st.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-doctors-sue-google-maps-over-unfair-reviews-712845">Japan doctors sue Google Maps over unfair reviews in first such class action</a>

<h2>So people in China can't use WhatsApp and Threads any more?</h2>

iPhone maker Apple, in its statement, said that WhatsApp and Threads are still available for download on its other storefronts elsewhere.

Tech-savvy Chinese consumers, as per Reuters, are still able to download the removed apps from Apple's App Stores in other countries if they have an iCloud account there.

(With inputs from agencies)

Apple on Friday (Apr 19) announced that it had removed WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China. This, the company said, was done in compliance with an order by the Chinese government, which reportedly cited national security concerns.

Apple on Friday (Apr 19) announced that it had removed WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China. This, the company said, was done in compliance with an order by the Chinese government, which reportedly cited national security concerns. Even as Threads and WhatsApp were removed, other Meta apps, including Messenger and Instagram, were still available on the Apple app store on Friday morning in China, reported Reuters. This removal targeting American tech services as per Bloomberg comes as the US government takes steps towards banning TikTok owned by China's ByteDance. US politicians, too, have cited national security concerns as the reason behind the push to either sell TikTok to a non-Chinese owner or be banned in the US market. Also read | Nature’s grand theatre: Volcanic eruption and northern lights create stunning visuals in Iceland. Watch! Security concerns In a statement to Reuters, Apple said, "The Cyberspace Administration of China ordered the removal of these apps from the China storefront based on their national security concerns." "We are obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when we disagree," added the tech giant. The exact cause of security concerns for the Chinese government was not clear at the time this report was published. However, citing people with expertise in China's tech industry, Reuters reports that the government order could be related to a new rule from last August. This rule requires all apps available in the country to register with the government or risk removal. The deadline for companies to complete registration was March end, and the regulations went into effect starting April 1st. Also read | Japan doctors sue Google Maps over unfair reviews in first such class action So people in China can't use WhatsApp and Threads any more? iPhone maker Apple, in its statement, said that WhatsApp and Threads are still available for download on its other storefronts elsewhere. Tech-savvy Chinese consumers, as per Reuters, are still able to download the removed apps from Apple's App Stores in other countries if they have an iCloud account there. (With inputs from agencies)

Meta's WhatsApp and Threads removed from Apple app store in China

Meta's Oversight Board has announced two separate investigations after explicit AI-powered images appeared on its platforms. Watch to know more.

Meta's oversight board probes handling of AI-generated explicit images

Meta Platforms on Monday said that it would temporarily shut down its social media platform Threads in Turkey from April 29 with an interim order. Watch to know more.

Meta platforms to temporarily shutdown shut down threads in Turkey

Malaysia has urged Meta and TikTok to monitor their platforms more closely after it noticed a rise in harmful content this year. In the first 3 months of 2024, the government referred nearly 52,000 cases to social media platforms for further disciplinary action.

Malaysia urges Meta and TikTok to tackle harmful content on platforms

WhatsApp has committed to comply with European Union data transparency requirements. The decision follows complaints from consumer groups across Europe that the business did not clarify its privacy policy modifications last year.

Meta revamps WhatsApp to meet EU 'gatekeeper' rules

WhatsApp is implementing changes to its terms of service in response to Europe's Digital Markets Act (DMA), affecting users in the US. While seemingly quite straightforward, these changes have broader implications worth noting.

Forbes reported&nbsp;that WhatsApp's new terms will be&nbsp;in effect this week. You need to accept them by the end of Wednesday or delete your account.

The DMA's influence extends beyond Europe, attracting attention from regulators globally, particularly in the US. With WhatsApp leading the charge in adapting to regulatory changes, other tech giants like Apple, Google, and Meta are closely monitoring the situation.

Apple's iMessage has drawn scrutiny in a Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit, citing concerns about its closed ecosystem and lack of interoperability with Android. This lawsuit sheds light on bigger&nbsp;issues surrounding user privacy and competition in messaging platforms.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/explained-from-thefacebook-to-meta-20-year-long-controversial-journey-of-social-media-giant-686951">Also read |&nbsp;Explained | From Facebook to Meta, 20-year-long controversial journey of social media giant</a>

<h2>Meta's legal challenges and WhatsApp's integration</h2>

Meta faces its own legal battles, notably regarding the FTC's attempts to unwind acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. WhatsApp's updated terms also hint at&nbsp;the need to integrate with third-party platforms like Sunbird, marking a significant shift in its approach to messaging.

Sunbird aims to integrate popular messaging apps, including WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, into a unified platform, highlighting the potential for third-party engagement. Despite previous setbacks, Sunbird's re-emergence signals a changing landscape for messaging interoperability.

While WhatsApp promises&nbsp;end-to-end encryption, Meta warns of potential risks associated with third-party providers handling message transmission. This raises concerns about data security and user privacy in an increasingly interconnected messaging environment.

Also watch |&nbsp;India elections 2024: Meta launches India-specific elections operations centre

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-elections-2024-meta-launches-india-specific-elections-operations-centre-702324/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The evolving regulatory landscape and technological advancements reshape the narrative around secure messaging. WhatsApp users face a paradigm shift, marked by increased regulatory oversight and the integration of third-party chat services.

(With inputs from agencies)

WhatsApp is implementing changes to its terms of service in response to Europe's Digital Markets Act (DMA), affecting users in the US. While seemingly quite straightforward, these changes have broader implications worth noting.

WhatsApp is implementing changes to its terms of service in response to Europe's Digital Markets Act (DMA), affecting users in the US. While seemingly quite straightforward, these changes have broader implications worth noting. Forbes reported that WhatsApp's new terms will be in effect this week. You need to accept them by the end of Wednesday or delete your account. The DMA's influence extends beyond Europe, attracting attention from regulators globally, particularly in the US. With WhatsApp leading the charge in adapting to regulatory changes, other tech giants like Apple, Google, and Meta are closely monitoring the situation. Apple's iMessage has drawn scrutiny in a Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit, citing concerns about its closed ecosystem and lack of interoperability with Android. This lawsuit sheds light on bigger issues surrounding user privacy and competition in messaging platforms. Also read | Explained | From Facebook to Meta, 20-year-long controversial journey of social media giant Meta's legal challenges and WhatsApp's integration Meta faces its own legal battles, notably regarding the FTC's attempts to unwind acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. WhatsApp's updated terms also hint at the need to integrate with third-party platforms like Sunbird, marking a significant shift in its approach to messaging. Sunbird aims to integrate popular messaging apps, including WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, into a unified platform, highlighting the potential for third-party engagement. Despite previous setbacks, Sunbird's re-emergence signals a changing landscape for messaging interoperability. While WhatsApp promises end-to-end encryption, Meta warns of potential risks associated with third-party providers handling message transmission. This raises concerns about data security and user privacy in an increasingly interconnected messaging environment. Also watch | India elections 2024: Meta launches India-specific elections operations centre The evolving regulatory landscape and technological advancements reshape the narrative around secure messaging. WhatsApp users face a paradigm shift, marked by increased regulatory oversight and the integration of third-party chat services. (With inputs from agencies)

WhatsApp deadline looms: 72 hours to accept new terms or delete your account

In a first since 2020, Mark Zuckerberg surged past Elon Musk to become the third-richest person in the world according to Bloomberg's ranking. Zuckerberg and Musk's net worth is $186.

In a first since 2020, Mark Zuckerberg surged past Elon Musk to become the third-richest person in the world according to Bloomberg's ranking. Zuckerberg and Musk's net worth is $186.9 billion and $180.6 billion respectively. Musk Slips as Tesla Faces Challenges The shift came after Reuters reported that Tesla Inc. had canceled plans for a less-expensive car. Though Musk denied the report, the Tesla stock took a hit. Elon Musk is currently ranked fourth on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. In contrast, with the success of Meta, Zuckerberg's wealth has grown, and the company stock has risen to new heights this year getting him in the top 3 for the first time since 2020. This year Tesla stock has seen a 34% drop meanwhile, Meta Platforms Inc. has surged by 49% Also read: Meta makes changes on deepfakes and other altered content ahead of US Presidential election Tech Dominance in Wealth Creation With the AI boom in full swing, a broader trend shows that technology companies have been doing well in the market. Meanwhile, EVs (electric vehicle) stocks have seen a dip. Beyond Wealth: A Public Rivalry Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg's rivalry beyond business is well known. They both have gotten into public disputes from time to time. Last year, Musk even challenged the Meta CEO to a public boxing match, which did not happen. This came after Meta launched Threads which is a direct competitor to Elon Musk-owned Twitter, now X. Who are the two richest persons according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index At the top spot in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index is Bernard Arnault the chairman of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton with a total fortune of $207.3 billion. Jeff Bezos the founder of Amazon.com Inc. is the second wealthiest man with a total fortune of $207.3 billion.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's wealth tops rival Elon Musk for first time since 2020

Meta Platforms is pushing back against the US Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) efforts to amend a 2020 privacy settlement. <o:p></o:p>

Meta maintains that it had voluntarily informed the agency about two technical glitches associated with its Messenger Kids app.<o:p></o:p>

According to Meta's filing on Thursday, the company disclosed these bugs back in July 2019. <o:p></o:p>

Moreover, Meta highlighted that it has invested&nbsp;$5.5 billion in its privacy program and various related initiatives.<o:p></o:p>

The FTC has not yet provided any comments in response to Reuters' inquiries regarding this matter. <o:p></o:p>

The focal point of contention revolves around a 2020 privacy settlement with Facebook, aimed at prohibiting the monetisation of minors' data and imposing stricter limits on facial recognition technology. <o:p></o:p>

The FTC has expressed its intent to refine this existing agreement, accusing Meta of providing misleading information to parents about child protection measures.<o:p></o:p>

Earlier in March, a US appeals court made a ruling, indicating that Meta cannot prevent the FTC from reopening an investigation into Facebook's privacy practices. <o:p></o:p>

This decision came in spite of Meta's arguments that it had already paid $5 billion fine and had consented to a variety of protective measures.<o:p></o:p>

Meta has consistently denied allegations of deceiving parents regarding privacy risks. <o:p></o:p>

Last November, the company filed a lawsuit against the FTC. <o:p></o:p>

This legal challenge was framed as a broad constitutional issue, questioning the FTC's dual role as both an investigative entity and an adjudicative one.<o:p></o:p>

(With inputs from Reuters)<o:p></o:p>

Meta Platforms is pushing back against the US Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) efforts to amend a 2020 privacy settlement. Meta maintains that it had voluntarily informed the agency about two technical glitches associated with its Messenger Kids app.

Meta Platforms is pushing back against the US Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) efforts to amend a 2020 privacy settlement. Meta maintains that it had voluntarily informed the agency about two technical glitches associated with its Messenger Kids app. According to Meta's filing on Thursday, the company disclosed these bugs back in July 2019. Moreover, Meta highlighted that it has invested $5.5 billion in its privacy program and various related initiatives. The FTC has not yet provided any comments in response to Reuters' inquiries regarding this matter. The focal point of contention revolves around a 2020 privacy settlement with Facebook, aimed at prohibiting the monetisation of minors' data and imposing stricter limits on facial recognition technology. The FTC has expressed its intent to refine this existing agreement, accusing Meta of providing misleading information to parents about child protection measures. Earlier in March, a US appeals court made a ruling, indicating that Meta cannot prevent the FTC from reopening an investigation into Facebook's privacy practices. This decision came in spite of Meta's arguments that it had already paid $5 billion fine and had consented to a variety of protective measures. Meta has consistently denied allegations of deceiving parents regarding privacy risks. Last November, the company filed a lawsuit against the FTC. This legal challenge was framed as a broad constitutional issue, questioning the FTC's dual role as both an investigative entity and an adjudicative one. (With inputs from Reuters)

Meta clashes with US FTC over proposed changes to 2020 privacy agreement

Facebook owner Meta announces the shutdown of CrowdTangle, a crucial tool for tracking misinformation, just ahead of major elections worldwide, including the US. Watch in for more details!